The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-06
MAGISTRATE HUGHES.
Inside Facts Of the Thrilling Tragedy
at Brunswick.
Acts spd words Of CoffmAn which
saver OF an Inward Feeling OF
Guffs and Nervousness.

trate VINO TOOK nhnly huu NikoIOun
part in bringing light upon the Bruns-
wick tragedy, and after hearing all
the evidence committed W. P. Golf.
man, the wealthy mill owner, to jail
without bail, was in the city yester-
day. An APPRAL reporter saw him
In Chairman SlaughteY's Office yester.
day, and heard some details Of the a.
fair not yet published, and which tend
to fasten guilt upon Goldman, by his
own actions and words.
II see in Cofmau's statement pub
lished In the APfEAL that he accuses
me OF personal enmity against him."
said the ia tics. "Now, can prove
that I relused at first TO issue the war
rant for his arrest, a1d endeavored 10
persuade the negroes who requested H.
tina they must be mistaken"
al you have time, and are so dis.
posed, would be glad to hear soma OF
the inner history Of that affair."" baid
the reporter.
"The disappearance OF l. Aster you are
aware, occurred on Tuesday, August
30.h," said Mr.. Hughes. "Wednes.
day night, after / had eaten supper
and was cit ing on my front porch,
two negroes came mp and told me OF
their suspicious, al the same time
asking Tor a writ for Ooffman and Dick
Walker. As l eaid before, told
them there must be some mistake
and reasoned them out Of tbs de-
mand, stating that Easter would coma
up all right. They went away about
half satisfied. Next morning two
men came for warrant for Walker,
aud this put me TO thinking. Things
were growing mysterious, and finally
Issued the wfit, placing u In the
hands NJ Deputy Sheriff Fleetwood.
The eff er did not know Walker, but
had description OF the team he was
driving Tor CoAman. Arriving at the
place where the men were getting out
timber, the first man he encountered
was Walker. He took charge OF him
and the team and WAS driving away.
I'm not the man lou are looking for,
said Walker, 'but.ii you will allow,
/ can taks you to him. Fleetwood
told him that Was what he
wanted, aud the two drove In
the direction indicated by Walker.
Arriving at q point where the road
forks, Walker said, Just 20 down that
way q Bhorl distance and yon will find
Wake loadlnga wagon Fleetwood
did 90, found the wagon, bat regro
man was the only human being to be-
seen. Where can | hnd WslkeTY
asked the deputy. You have Just lef.
him. The man on the wag with
You was him, replied tina negro. The
officer huriifd back, but was met a.
the wagon by Goldman, who informed
him that Walker had told him 10 got |
another driver, as the ofli sers we're |
after him. i can tell you, proc eded
Cofman, addressing Fleetwood, wal.
ksr had nothing 10 do with this STAIR,
and alone am responsible fir IT, For
one who had not been acquainted
with the contents OF the writ trying 10
be SERVED, this show OF knowledge on
the part al Goldman aroused a deep
interest aud tusp cion in the breast OF
the ofiirer. lie returned 10
Brunswick, arriving there be
lore noon. About noon ano'her
delegation oi negroes came to me
for warrant Of arrest against the two
negroee, Anderson and Mason, agaiost
whom they claimed TO have iouDd
strong evidence identifying them with
the disappearance oi Easter. Issued
II, and Deputy Fleetwood arrested
them without any trouble. Their trial
was set for next day aud they were
Jailed. Tnat afternoon ! WIS again
applied TO Tor warrant for Coilmsn
and Weber, but Blill / hesiiated.
Negroes, you know, imagine magis.
trate can do anything, 20 they not only
wanted warrant Of arrest, but also a
search warrant and another to stop
the mill ifOm operating | told them
did not believe Goldman could afford
10 be guilty Of the crime susptc ed,
and, even II be we've, the body would |
not have been hidden about the mill.
The writ 10 ttrp mans legitimate /
business was beyond my authority. At /
this junciure Fleetwood came up AID |
raid there Wa q deal Of mystery |
thronding the adair; told mo OF O0n /
man's voluntary romark, and Joined
the negroes Ia demanding a warrant |
Tor the AL owner. This convinced /
me that my only course as a maya. |
traits was 70 issue II. Deputy Fleet.
wood took tbs writ and left. Justice
Stewart was In town, and I took him
In Tor consultation. After lis,ening
patiently until al had been said, he,
too, adyised mo b elf u 10 the bot.
ton. The affair was assuming such
proportions ard the negroes we're be-.
coming 10 restless that l invited NJ.
Stewart 10 remain aud cit with me Ina
Judgment, which he consented 20 do.
Late In the afternoon (Thuu dayl |
feetSoot came In with Gilman aud
Weber While | sent out Tor con.
tul,alion with Mr.. Stewart tho two
prItontTs remained inside with the
deputy aud Mir. English. We decided
~ poe pone the trial until tho next
moIbirg, aud went In and 90 Informed
hoffman aud Weber. Their bond
was bKed ~ 500 for Colfman add
tJO ior Webbsr, the latter covering
tao charges. The papers were fI.d /
NJ aud Mr. E1gish signed them. Az
soon 40 this bad b ca done Gilman
came 10 me an 4 wanted 10 make = lull
statement 'The Trial IL Get Tor 10 /
morrow m1ning,' / tod him, and | |
doi'i want 10 hear anything until that
time La,er, General II looks thought !
u beet O. make a further postpone. |
mem un.ll the next "Wednesday, Al |
that both iidus might get mp thslf vii. |
neseee, and CofmGn and Webber de.
parted.
Friday came, and TIE iosn Was fol. !
OF negroes and whites, interraed In |
the hearing Of tho negro prisnnuia. |
They were brought cut, and Coanau |
came TO me- n 4 complained that n I
was rough on the negroes, who kncV |
nothing u The affair, 20 remain IN jail.
Mr.. Brook, who came out thtfe 10 Ina.
vestigiie the MISTER, on Learning 1f
the arrest, ordered me 10 hold trrm
them without blEi, and himss'f Wttr
tho oh srge of magler Rg1irbt them.
told O11man Of this, but ho srots |
90 Knowingly Of the affair tina / a..
ally consented 90 admit item 10 bal.